Kids Book Index
Atinuke
Anna Hibiscus lives in a busy Nigerian city with her mother, father, twin baby brothers, and a large extended family. Their home is a big white house with a garden inside a city compound, where cousins play and argue and relatives fill daily life with conversation and laughter. Anna also dreams of seeing snow. Pencil drawings portray the energetic spirit of her childhood in contemporary West Africa.
This book appears on 1 reading list across 1 edition.
TOO SMALL TOLA AND THE THREE FINE GIRLSAtinuke, illustrated by Onyinye IwuTola lives in Lagos with her sister Moji, brother Dapo, and Grandmommy. Three chapter stories follow her family: Tola searches for Grandmommy’s lost earring, joins Dapo in taking over Grandmommy’s groundnut-selling work when Grandmommy is ill, and confronts envy after seeing three girls with things she wishes she had. Tola’s small size and persistence shape her responses to family problems and surprises.Five to NineLexile Text Measure 610LATOS Book Level 3.5On the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
My Hands Tell a StoryKelly Starling LyonsZoe spends a day baking bread with her grandmother. As they work, she watches Grandma knead the dough and becomes absorbed in the stories suggested by her grandmother’s hands. Those hands hold memories of a life shaped by love, and they guide Zoe through the baking. The story connects a shared kitchen activity with family storytelling, showing how everyday gestures can carry memories across generations.Five to NineOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
Annette Feels Free: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life MermaidKatie Mazeika, illustrated by Katie MazeikaAnnette Feels Free recounts the life of Annette Kellerman, known as the Original Mermaid. As a girl, Annette loves dancing, twirling, and swimming, and she wants the freedom to pursue those interests. After overcoming a childhood disability, she becomes a famous swimmer. The book follows her determination to claim the rights she sought, portraying her as a forward-thinking feminist whose life was shaped by movement, swimming, and independence. Colorful digital illustrations accompany the account, with back matter and additional resources.Five to NineOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details